Northants Police investigating historic abuse allegations at school
It follows claims published in a book by Princess Diana's younger brother, who was a pupil at Maidwell Hall School
Northamptonshire Police have launched a criminal investigation into allegations of non-recent sexual abuse at a boarding school.
It follows "preliminary enquiries" into claims made by Charles Spencer, the younger brother of Princess Diana, who attended Maidwell Hall School, Market Harborough, as an eight-year-old in the 1970s.
Earl Spencer included them in his book, A Very Private School, which he released in March.
A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police, said:
"We are in the early stages of investigating a number of non-recent allegations of sexual abuse at Maidwell Hall School.
"Northamptonshire Police takes all allegations of abuse very seriously and where reports are made to us, we will pursue all available lines of enquiry to help bring perpetrators to justice.
"We encourage anyone who has suffered abuse anywhere in our county, at any time, to contact us either online at northants.police.uk, by calling 101 or 03000 111 222 if you’re calling from outside of Northamptonshire."
Writing in March, Maidwell Hall School said:
"On the 14th March, the book A Very Private School, a memoir by Earl Spencer was published. The book focuses on an unhappy period in his life, when against his own wishes, some fifty years ago aged eight years old, he was sent by his parents to Maidwell Hall as a boarder.
"It has been very sobering to read about the experiences the young Charles Spencer, and some of his contemporaries, had at the School, and we are sorry that this was their experience. It is difficult to read about practices which were, sadly, sometimes believed to be normal and acceptable at that time.
"We were also dismayed to read about the allegations of the abuse Charles Spencer suffered. Having been alerted to what took place, we immediately made a referral to the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer), to ensure that any disclosures are handled sensitively, expediently, and professionally.
"We would encourage anyone with similar experiences to come forward by contacting Maidwell Hall, the LADO or the police.
"Within education today, almost every facet of school life has evolved significantly since the 1970s. At the heart of these changes is the strict safeguarding of children – protecting them from abuse and maltreatment - and the promotion of their welfare."